Kobe On Phil Jackson’s Jordan Comparison: It’s “Apples To Oranges”

Jordan was also more naturally inclined to let the game come to him and not overplay his hand, whereas Kobe tends to force the action, especially when the game isn’t going his way. When his shot is off, Kobe will pound away relentlessly until his luck turns. Michael, on the other hand, would shift his attention to defense or passing or setting screens to help the team win the game.”

“Michael was more charismatic and gregarious than Kobe. He loved hanging out with his teammates and security guards, playing cards, smoking cigars, and joking around,” Jackson said in the book, which was obtained in advance by The Times.

“Kobe is different. He was reserved as a teenager, in part because he was younger than the other players and hadn’t developed strong social skills in college. When Kobe first joined the Lakers, he avoided fraternizing with his teammates. But his inclination to keep to himself shifted as he grew older. Increasingly, Kobe put more energy into getting to know the other players, especially when the team was on the road.”

Bryant of course is the Black Mamba, and definitely wasn’t going to sit by and let Jackson or anyone else take shot at him. Kobe responded as only he can.

Calling the comparison Apples2Oranges, and then took his own shot at Jordan and others by asking how they would react to playing with Shaquille O’Neal.